
HANNAH W^ 

^ MORE KOHAUS 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



Shelf ...^-^.iS^ 

ins 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE 



BY 



fiANNAM MORE KOflAUS 



Author of "Betweea tlie Lines," "Blossoms of Universal 
Truth." etc. 




F. M. Harley Publishing Company, 
87-89 Washington Street. 

CHICAGO. 



-f^ 









Copyright 1895 
Bv F. M. Harley Publishing Company. 



CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Living Creeds 6 

My Heart, my Soul and I . . . .7 

Uncrowned 10 

The Living Breath 13 

The Christmas Tree ..... 14 

Peace 17 

The Unveiling of Truth .... 20 

Three Words 24 

One of God's Angels ' 26 

Deathless Fame 29 

Bud of Wisdom 31 

What Think You? 35 

The Silence of Spirit .... 39 

These are Glad Tears 41 

Beautiful Hearts 43 

The Problem Solved 45 

The Real and Unreal .... 48 

Hope's Risen Star 50 

The Perfect Balm 54 

Aspiration to Inspiration . . . .57 
The Repose of the Soul .... 61 
A Golden Reed . ... • . . .62 

My Fair Physician 64 

What is God? ....... m 

Hidden, yet There 68 

The Key of Life 70 

Which? 72 

For Pity's Sake 74 

Little White Rose 80 

The Unknown 83 

3 



CONTENTS. 

I AM Free 86 

The Ark of Rest 91 

The Fount of Love 94 

Like unto Like 96 

A Similitude 99 

Who ART Thou? 102 

The living Soul 106 

A Rock in the Mountain's Breast . . 109 

Thought and I 112 

A Drop of Gold 115 

Regenerated 117 

Sonnet 120 

The Midnight Hour 121 

Spiritual Altitude 123 

Olivet 125 

Let Love Beam 128 

Resurrection Morn 131 

I Am 134 

Pearls of Truth 137 

Ere Long 140 

Mind the Threads 141 

The Weight of a Tear 143 

Be Still 149 

The Shadows of Life 150 

Faith's Friend 152 

The Secret 155 

Angel of Peace 158 

One Life 159 

Wisdom's Seven Pillars .... 163 

Day of Rest 166 

The Bread of Heaven .... 167 
4 



Soul-fragrance is pure thought, 
In living virords inwrought ; 
And in its essence lies, 
Life's perfume in disguise. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



LIVING CREEDS. 

Adorn th3" brow with virtue's leaves, 
Impearl th}' lips v^'ith truth ; 

Illume thine eyes with honest smiles, 
And innocence of youth. 

Set now thy words with accents kind. 
And gem with love thy deeds ; 

Jewel thy heart with holy thoughts, 
And cast awaj^ dead creeds. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 7 

MY HEART, MY SOUL, AND I. 

I asked my heart one wear}^ da}?-, 

Why it was alwa^'s sighing, 
And in reply I heard it sa^^ : 

"I dread the moments flying ; 
I hear, methinks, the tread of hours, 

With theiir relentless speeding, 
Sweep like a whirlwind's mighty powers, 

Destruction all unheeding. 

"I hear a sound of rocks and stones, 

In rushing waters falling ; 
And savage voices, wild ^^ith moans, 

Out in the darkness calling. 
I fear what is to-morrow's lot. 

With its uncertain trials ; 
I dread because I know not what 

Contain its hidden vials." 

"O foolish heart, thy sense betrays ; 

'Tis shadows that thou fearest ; 
The merry wind's sweet melodies 

Among the trees thou hearest ; 
The falling rocks, in waters wild, 

Are sounds from splashing fountains ; 



8 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

The moaning voices, echoes mild, 
From far-off, hollow mountains." 

And thus I spake, my timid heart 

To comfort and enlighten ; 
Ne"w strength and courage to impart 

Where ignorance did frighten ; 
And as we chatted on it seemed 

My heart and I were dual — 
Two selves that on each other beamed 

As sparkles from one jewel. 

Another day I asked mj^ soul 

Why it was always singing, 
No matter what Time's chalice dole, 

As day by day 'twas swinging ; 
And in a still, small voice it said : 

"My light is clear and shining, 
No heavy night can o'er me spread, 

No clouds of dark repining. 

" I see from out my loftj^ place, 
The past, to-day, to-morrow, 

And knowing how the three embrace, 
There is no cause for sorrow ; 

No cause for fear nor dread, not e'en 
The \sreighing of a feather, 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

For all things work — seen or unseen — 
In harmony together." 

"Amen ! so let it be !" said I, 

There's justice in the measure ; 
For every human sob and sigh, 

Shall be an equal pleasure ; 
For every pang of trial borne, 

For every hour benighted, 
For every sense with anguish torn, 

Let be my heart requited." 

And now it seemed that we were three- 
Three sparkles intertwining — 

A sacred, mystic trinity. 
In unity combining ; 

My heart all human, meet for pain, 
My soul, of race supernal, 

And I, possessor of the twain. 
Linked by the Hand Eternal. 



10 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

UNCROWNED. 

I'd rather be a little waj^side flow'r, 

And feel my mission blest, 
If some lone child of earth would gather me 

To wear upon its breast ; 
A low^ly flow'r nigh hid by sheltering grass, 

Than one whose blushes grace 
The open thoroughfares, its petals fair 

Knriched \vith costly lace. 

I'd rather be a sunbeam pure and bright, 

To break the valley's gloom ; 
To penetrate the tiniest buds of hope, 

And burst them into bloom ; 
I'd rather be a ray of gentle light. 

Than be a sun whose heat 
Consumes with passion unsuppressed the 
flow'rs 

That blossom at its feet. 

I'd rather be a song l)ird on the wing, 

The ether blue my gauge, 
Than sing the song of petted bondage, bar'd 

Within a golden cage ; 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 11 

I'd rather be a song bird, wild and free, 

And chant a psalm of praise, 
To thrill the night of agony into 

The daw^n of better days. 

I'd rather be a purling mountain rill, 

Leaping from rock to rock, 
Adown thro' meadows, clover-red, to greet 

The herdman's thirsty flock, 
Than be an ocean whose gigantic jaws 

With mocking laughter foam, 
While its luxurious, coral-fretted couch 

Robs many a happy home. 

I'd rather be a lesser light to-day, 

And pen some simple line, 
To nestle in a troubled heart and make 

Its inner walls to shine, 
Than volume upon volume fill with lore 

So wise 'tw^ill mj^stify — 
So far beyond the reach of daily need. 

The masses pass it by. 



12 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

I'd rather be one of the humble poor, 

And eat their hardened crust, 
Than pile up millions 'till my bartered soul 

Corrodes with selfish rust ; 
I'd rather mingle with the jostling throng, 

Than w^ear a diadem, 
If I could heal the bleeding heart of one 

Who touched my garment's hem. 



aK>UL-FRAGRANCK. U 



THE LIVING BREATH. 

Spirit of God, oh move upon 

The "waters of my soul ; 
Vibrate its thousand living strings, 

And make me truly whole. 

Spirit of God, oh quicken me 

With spiritual life ; 
Let me be born anew and thus 

With quickening power be rife. 

Spirit of God, I open wide 

My inmost soul to thee ; 
Come in, come in and here abide, 

To make me wholly free. 

Spirit of God, oh thought divine. 
With ceaseless action thrill 

Me into conscious oneness ^vith 
God-Life, God-Love, God-Will. 



14 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

THE CHRISTMAS TRKK. 

It stands in the midst of the Garden of God, 
With its leaves upturned to the Hght, 

Its limbs outstretched as if to itself 
The weary world to invite. 

Its lofty height extending to heaven, 

Its vast, immeasurable girth, 
Is freighted with numberless precious gifts, 

As its branches bend to the earth. 

On its topmost bough, with effulgent glow, 
Gleams the radiant morning star, 

Whose glorious beams unwaveringly shine, 
That all may behold it afar. 

Below is suspended from everj^ twig, 
Full more than the heart can hold, 

Of everj'thing good, to make the earth glad — 
Yea, all that the soul can infold. 

How eagerly some have gleaned from the 
ground. 
Beneath this wonderful Tree, 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 15 

A few bright gems which dropped to the 
earth, 
Unmindful of what there might be 

Awaiting above, if they hungered more, 

And lifted the drooping head 
To where they could gaze on its marvelous 
gifts. 

In abundance over them spread ! 

And the weary captives, the Mammon-bound 
slaves, 
Who have fed upon empty husks, 
Half starved for the yvant of the bread of 
heaven. 
As they grope in the wintry dusk. 

If they did but know of the Garden of God, 

If they would but come and see. 
And adorn themselves with the beautiful 
gifts. 

How comforted all might be. 

O souls, look up to the Tree divine, 
That covers j-^ou w^ith its arms. 



16 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

But waiting to give, with a lavish hand, 
Its peerless, immortal charms. 

Reach up, reach high to its furthermost 
boughs, 

And gather its jewels in ; 
Be now made happy, and whole, and w^ise. 

As you never before have been. 

Heed not if your ej^es grow dim ; these gems 
Through the gathering mist now grasp, 

And feel w^hat it is in your heart of hearts. 
All infinite good to clasp. 

No hand but thine own can gather the gifts. 
No soul but thine own can ^vrest 

The priceless store from this Christmas Tree 
And place it within thy breast. 

O Tree in the midst of the Garden of God ! 

O wonderful, life-laden Tree ! 
Thy gems and jewels are Spirit enwrought, 

For thy sap is of Deity. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 17 

PEACE. 

I come witli footsteps light as shadow's fall, 
And with soft fingers, tenderer than tears, 

I gently drop the curtains, silken-fringed, 
And veil with velvet mufflers wakeful ears. 

I'm no one's foe, but rather, friend to all 
Impersonal my vigils and my care ; 

The wild beast, well subdued, the timid bird. 
Alike mj^ boundless supervision share. 

I close the petals of the flowers, while love. 
My oft companion — we are sister twins — 

With fingers deft and dainty as my own. 
Seals fast their satin lids with diamond 
pins. 

I make the aged forget their feebleness, 
Their Avhitened locks, their three-score 
years and ten. 
And over flower-sprinkled hills of youth. 
With footsteps young and lithe they roam 
again. 



18 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



I wipe out years of parting, and although 
Vast oceans roll between, I blot out space; 

Within my happy portals once again, 

The w^ell beloved with tender clasp em- 
brace. 

I give the mother back her long-lost child, 
E'en though death's vallej^ it has crossed ; 
and I 

Cradle the infant ; hush its moaning wail. 
And, for the mother, kiss awa}-^ its sigh. 

I make the poor to sit at sumptuous feasts ; 

To drink the wine of life, in purple clad ; 
Great clusters of hope's roses strew beneath 

Their joyous feet to make them still more 
glad. 

Behind my doors the false again are true ; 

Old friends no longer meet as bitter foes ; 
And o'er the waj'^ward one, with loving hand, 

Sweet Charity her snow-white mantle 
throw* 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 19 

What potency like mine, pain to erase ? 

I paint new scenes and fancies o'er the spot 
Where fever burned, where sorrow^ wept, and 
lo! 
The nameless grief and pain are quite for- 
got. 

Kings bow to me. If I but touch their heads 

The crown of jewels, set in bands of care. 
Drops off — a crown of peace lies there, be- 
stud 
With gems whose blissful radiance pass 
compare. 

I calm the restless thoughts and with my 
breath 

I hold the frenzied one serene and still. 
I wonder, is there monarch in the w^orld 

Whose scepter rules more mightily at will? 

O weary world, thy guardian angel I ! 

I hear thy call and hold thee to my breast ; 
Untiring, changeless, long as time endures, 

I'll shelter thee beneath my wings of rest. 



20 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

THE UNVEILING OF TRUTH. 

How many, iiiau}^ ages 

Has Truth remained concealed 
K'en while its hidden features 

To earnest souls appealed ! 
For through the heavy veiling, 

And 'neath the deep-laid hem. 
Was outlined, in the shadow^. 

The glow of many a gem. 

Krect it stands, supremely. 

The one and only cause 
Of all that is or will be, 

And all that ever w^as ; 
Although upon its drapery 

The dust of cycles rest. 
And superstition's darkness 

Veils deeper yet its breast. 

The mysteries that lingered 
Around its massive base ; 

The power its form suggested, 
Could one behold its face ; 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 21 

The charm its graces hinted, 

The glory it betraj^ed, 
Art, ism, song and science 

With eagerness essayed. 

Sage after sage has striven, 

With earnest effort true. 
And steadfast, tireless purpose, 

To pierce the curtain through ; 
Philosopher and scholar, 

Great poets, j^oung and old, 
Consumed the midnight hours 

Unraveling a fold. 

The}^ deemed that whosoever 

Unveiled almighty Truth, 
Would find surpassing beauty, 

Also immortal youth ; 
Unmeasured stores of wisdom, 

Strength of unequaled might, 
Love, life eternal, riches, 

With gems of untold light. 

So here and there a jewel, 
And now and then a pearl 



22 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

Has fallen down the ages, 
Into life's eddying whirl ; 

And hungry hearts have garnered, 
With greedy hands, each gem, 

And treasured it till nearly 
They formed its diadem. 

But in this generation. 

This day of w^aking thought, 
When sects and creeds are crumbling 

And caste reduced to naught, 
The veil is slo^wly falling 

From Truth's long-hidden face, 
And many are beholding 

Its majesty and grace. 

And many more are tasting 

A little of its power. 
And grow^ing in its greatness 

More ^se from hour to hour ; 
More beautiful and youthful. 

More loving, just and true. 
As one by one its virtues 

Come perfectly to view. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 23 

And what is now revealing 

Truth standing on its throne, 
The Alpha and Omega 

Of all that can be known? 
What hand is now unveiling 

Its face since time began ? 
The divining soul of woman, 

Within the mind of man. 

He who possesses courage 

To gaze unflinchingly 
Into its unveiled grandeur, 

Shall know all mystery ; 
While he who dares embrace it — 

Perfection, life impearled — 
Becomes a mighty victor — 

The master of the world. 



24 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

THREE WORDS. 

There came to nie one midnight hour 
Three words endued with wondrous power; 
They flashed athwart my darkened sight, 
Like shafts of pure, celestial light, 
And turned the night to daj' complete; 
Three simple words, but oh, how sweet. 
Love faileth never ! 

Aye, suns may rise but suns will set ; 
The dearest earthly ones forget ; 
The bravest heart may change or fall, 
But love, God-love, endures through all- 
All times ; all states ; 'twill never cease, 
O wrords enfraught with heavenlj'^ peace, 
Love faileth never ! 

Preserving me from changeful fate ; 
Divesting every care of weight ; 
Till duty but a pleasure seems. 
And life is filled with golden gleams. 
That penetrate its every niche ; 
O w^ords so "wonderfully rich, 
Love faileth never! 



SOUL-FK AG RANGE. 25 

So near, it could not closer be ; 
Near as myself it is to me ; 
Mine to avail for every need, 
In every path to guide and lead ; 
Always at hand, unvarying, too — 
O -words most beautiful and true, 
Love faileth never ! 

Imprinted where my eyes can see ; 
Engraven on my memory, 
Burned deep within my soul, I hold 
These words with power so manifold ; 
That wrapped me in a close embrace, 
Like child and Father face to face — 
Love faileth never ! 



26 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

ONE OF GOD'S ANGELS. 

Dejected and lone I was sitting, 

Perplexed and encumbered with care ; 
Beside ine had fallen my knitting, 

With an accent of utter despair ; 
When suddenly came a low rapping, 

Disturbing my desolate mood, 
A gentle, uncertain-like tapping, 

As pleading, yet loath to intrude. 

"Come in," answered I, sadly weary. 

And wondering if stranger or friend. 
Had come to my dwelling so drear^^ 

Some comfort to borrow or lend ; 
That instant the door fle"w wide open, 

Admitting a presence so bright, 
Ere even a greeting -was spoken. 

Solicitude vanished outright. 

I begged my guest to be seated, 
Not trying my w^elcome to hide, 

And ere I had fully entreated, 

It nestled close down by my side ; 

Around me its soft arms twining, 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 27 

It brushed from iiiy brow wrinkled 
care, 
And lulled all my bitter repining 
To sleep with a melody rare. 

Together we rose ; gently lingering, 

We traversed the rooms to and fro ; 
Whatever it touched, softly fingering, 

Assumed a new beauty and glow ; 
My chamber's lone aspect and feature, 

Transfigured to such a degree, 
E'en I was a newl}^ made creature, 

On liberty's wings soaring free. 

Upborne beyond trial and dutj', 

Cold, hunger, grief, languor and years, 
It lent me its youth and its beauty. 

Its smiles flashing brightly thro' tears; 
It burnished dull life with such splendor, 

I grasped its gilt cordage again. 
And clung to its threads frail and slen- 
der. 

Till reaching a loftier plane. 

It told me its name was Immortal, 
And said it would tai-ry with me ; 



28 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

Then carefully locking the portal, 
It threw me the silvery key ; 

For the door at which it w^as rapping — 
Through which it an entrance had 
sought — 

Was only my heart, the guest rapping, 
A beautiful, God-given thought. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 29 

DEATHLESS FAME. 

The question comes home to us no^v and 
then, 

Have wre love enough for our fellow- 
men ? 

Do our hearts rebound with an eager 
throb, 

But to enrich them, never to rob ? 

'Tis not with meaningless w^ords we love, 
But with deeds that speak and actions 

that prove. 
Then love with a flame like consuming 

fire, 
Burning all bitterness, envy, ire. 

Love, till you shatter the stoniest heart. 
Till the frozen tear-drops melt and start; 
Till the wayward wanderers you reclaim. 
Changing to beauty their rags of shame. 

Ivove till you break every barrier down 
And the ghost of remembrance too, you 
drown ; 



30 SOUIy-FRAGRANCE. 

Till the children greet you with joyoua 

cry, 
And the poor "God bless you !" as you 

pass by. 

Love till the feeling's akin to pain, 

A tenderness that you can not restrain; 

Then the angel, recording, \^ill write 
your nanie, 

On the page with the Christ's, of death- 
less fame. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 31 

BUD OF WISDOM. 

"Dear mother, what's that blue above 

our heads ? 
As far as eye can reach it overspreads." 

"By some the name of 'sky' to it is given; 
By poets, sometimes called the 'floor of 
heaven.'" 

"And what is on the other side the blue? 
Can eyes like yours or mine ere pierce it 
through ?" 

"'Tis penetrated by no mortal eyes ; 
Know^ you, my child, our heavenly home 
there lies." 

"Our heavenly home? What makes it 

such, pray tell ? 
How differs that from this in which we 

dwell ? 

" Our heavenlj?^ Father in that home 
abides ; 



32 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

And where heaven is there love alone 
presides." 

"And is our heavenly Father, God ? Is 

He 
The one to whom we daily bend the 

knee ?" 

*'Yes, child! He is the God of whom I 

spoke 
To you this morning when you first 

awoke." 

"How can it be then that He bides but 
there ? 

You said this morn that God w^as every- 
where. 

Now >vhere is everywhere ? Is it not 
here, 

As well as way up yonder, mother, dear?" 

"Be silent, little one, and go to sleep ! 
You can not understand God's mysteries 
deep." 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 33 

"One question more, my mother, if you 

will ; 
Please tell me what is God ? and I'll be 

still." 

"Why so persistent, child? What would 

you prove ? 
The good Book says — and truly — 'God is 

love.' " 

" God everywhere ? — and love ? — why, 

can't you see, 
The whole world's full of love as it can 

be? 

And while I lie here thinking it all o'er, 
It seems to me this earth is heaven's 
floor, 

As well as yonder blue you call the sky, 
And which to tread you say that one 
must die. 



34 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

Our heaveril^'^ home is here as well as 

there, 
If love is God, and God is everywhere. 

Can you not see ? To me 'tis clear as 

light ; 
I'm sleep3'^ now, my mother — dear — good 

night." 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 35 

WHAT THINK YOU? 

Is living a failure ? 

Is life all in vain? 
Do we wrest with its problems, 

And strive to explain 
The why and the w^herefore 

Of that and of this, 
The sweetness of sorrow, 

The danger of bliss ? 
Is it merely for naught, 
Or is living with deeper signif- 
icance fraught ? 

Is living a failure ? 

Is it only the dream 
Of a world--wearied traveler 

On the bank of life's stream ? 
Has it never a purpose, 

A thought, w^ord, or deed 
To live throughout ages, 

And bear kindred seed ? 
Are things what they seem 
Or is there reality back of the 
dream ? 



36 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

We trample the roses 

Of earth 'iieath our feet, 
And mingle their ashes 

With dust of the street ; 
But the kindlier breezes 

Their hearts will convey- 
To a region where nothing 

Is known of decay ; 
To smile in our face, 
Some day unexpected, with love- 
lier grace. 

Is living a failure ? 

Is life but a dream ? 
O ask of the watcher 

Who catches a gleam 
Of the radiance eternal 

Now mounting the sky. 
Proclaiming the real 

Of life can not die ; 
'Tis onlj^ the crust 
Of the same that returneth dust 
unto dust. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 37 

Nay, life is no failure 

To one who has learned 
That the problems of being 

Are not to be spurned, 
But grappled with fearlessly. 

Many or few, 
'Till the shadowy seeming 

Has vanished from view ; 
And the lessons, tho' hard. 
The soul with the conflict is 

strengthened, not marred. 

And the one who is willing, 

To daily lay down 
His life for a purpose. 

If cross or if crow^n ; 
Who knows that an action, 

A thought, or a deed, 
Will bear a like fruitage 

If floTver or weed ; 
That each spoken word 
Is sure of fulfillment if silent or 
heard; 



38 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

To such life is earnest ; 

Example its goal, 
And the hey of salvation 

For each living soul ; 
As measure for measure, 

Of good or of ill. 
Returns to the giver 

His life-cup to fill ; 
And life is no failure ; 

Man lives not in vain ; 
Each moment is freighted 

With loss or with gain ; 
For living is fraught 
With significance into eternity 
wrought. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 39 

THE SILENCE OF SPIRIT. 

In the silence of Spirit I patiently wait 
Until there shall open the beautiful gate 
Of the temple celestial, whose glories, untold. 
One after another to me will unfold. 

In the silence of Spirit I listen to hear 
The voice of all voices to me the most dear ; 
For it wakens my soul to an anthem of praise, 
As the rose to the sun all its beautj^ displays. 

In the silence of Spirit I pause to be taught 
The lessons of life, with sinceritj^ fraught, — 
How truly to love and how rightly to live, 
How wisely withhold and how justly to give. 

In the silence of Spirit I wait to be led 

In the pathways where only the holy may 

tread ; 
Where blossoms of mercy, the fragrance of 

grace, 
And the fruitage of love every footprint doth 

trace. 



40 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

In the silence of Spirit I linger to find 
The garment of life for the soul of mankind ; 
To receive the new name in the purified stone 
Revealed to m}'- innermost being alone. 

Oh, sweet, hallowed silence of Spirit divine! 
Upon thy still bosom I love to recline, 
Where, rested, refreshed, and revived through 

and through, 
I come forth baptized for earth's struggles 

anew. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 41 

THESE ARE GLAD TEARS. 

You know, my friend, these are glad tears 
that fall ; 
Not tears from some divine despair, 
But fragments from some inner rapture 
known. 
Abiding in my soul somewhere. 

I know the depths from which they spring so 
free, 
And whence they go when they depart. 
Each drop's a seed-pearl trembling with su- 
preme 
Beatitudes of one full heart. 

I drink the sunshine of all joys in one ; 

These tears thus sparkle with the kiss 
Of yearning tenderness to gently wake 

Creation to its highest bliss. 

To tinge the earth with the rich glow of love; 

The flowers bloom fairer and more sweet ; 
The blue and gold of heav'n with all its stars, 

To spread beneath the way-worn feet. 



42 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

And I would gather all the wear}'- world, 

About it soft my arms entwine, 
And hold it close until each throbbing heart 

Could feel the happiness of mine. 

Yea, these are happy, gladsome tears, my 
friend, 

From wells do^^vn deep within the soul, 
Where center all the bliss of earth and heav'n 

Combined in one eternal whole. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 43 

BEAUTIFUL HEARTS. 

O, caskets of rare flo"wers, 

Your incense floating round 
Descends in rich profusion, 

Like rose-leaves on the ground; 
Besprinkling life's hard roadway, 

Its sunless valleys, too, 
With lovely, perfumed blossoms, 

Creating earth anew. 

Escaping from its prison, 

Each odor rich and sweet, 
Is restful, soothing balsam, 

To wayworn, weary feet ; 
Each breath that leaves its cloister. 

Is moist w^ith dew of heaven, 
And falls like benediction, 

In cups to mortals given. 

The end therein enfolded, 

O who can truly say. 
What will the ripened gathering 

Yield in a single day ? 



44 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

How nianj^ souls he lifted, 
How many bruises healed — 

Ho\^r may hopes rekindled, 

In the world's great harvest field. 

You dissipate the shadows, 

From lives benumbed with pain, 
You stay the hand of sorrow. 

Cleaving the heart in twain ; 
Your loving deeds are dropping. 

Warm with the hue of love. 
Upon unnumbered myriads, 

Like soft rain from above. 

Your fragrant, silent beauty. 

Is in the world to-day, 
A leaven of soul impulsing, 

The sense of self away ; 
Dispensing heavenly perfume. 

Upon the care-oppressed — 
O, hearts of true compassion, 

Hope of the world's sweet rest. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 45 

THE PROBLEM SOLVED. 

I was, I atn, I evermore shall be ; 
This is the truth eternal fixed for me : 
But sure as God is God, so surely I — 
Its image true — my "self" must deify. 

I am, 'tis true. But what am I ? Ah me, 
This is life's great perplexing mystery ; 
And how to manifest without a flaw. 
This truth of being, this eternal law. 

Within this " I " of me is fully stored. 
Infinite mind with its exhaustless hoard; 
'Tis not enough that I am I, as man, 
I must reveal the great Creator's plan. 

Sun, moon and stars are fashioned in my 

soul; 
All living things are under my control; 
All nature's products are of me a part, 
From blade of grass up to a human 

heart. 



46 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

And so I'll send forth blossonas till the 

air 
Is redolent with fragrance everywhere ; 
Such w^ondrous fruits shall all my 

branches grace, 
That grapes of Canaan, blushing, hide 

their face. 

The beasts shall roam the fields w^ith 

god-like mien : 
Only the holy shall in them be seen; 
And now shall come the long, long 

looked for days 
When lamb and lion shall together 

graze. 

The dove shall nestle in the eagle's 
breast; 

The serpent slumber in the vulture's 
nest; 

All storms shall hush, and whispering, 
" Peace, be still," 

Through me shall operate the One God- 
Will. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 47 

The lig[it of knowledge shall within me 

dwell; 
With perfect wisdom how to use it w^ell, 
And love divine to feel each human need, 
And then — forget the doer and the deed. 

With purest thoughts, all holy and di- 
vine, 

My sun and moon shall never cease to 
shine; 

The stars shall tell e'en in the darkest 
night, 

From whence they borrow their effulgent 
Hght. 

The problem then of i^e/'uo-w-iH be solved 
By doing that which is in me involved; 
Thus only can my soul reveal the plan, 
That God hath hidden in the being, Man. 



48 SOUL-PRAGKANCE. 



THE REAL AND UNREAL. 

As the years of time are marching 
Onward with their ceaseless tramp, 

We can know the real and unreal, 
Only by its worth and stamp. 

Wealth oft brings a golden sorrow, 

Feast walks hand in hand with death, 

Fame %vakes envy, beauty, malice, 
Grief rocks in the cup of mirth. 

Folly is allied to wisdom. 

Daring is subdued by fear. 
Favor blends with blame and anger, 

Laughter's silenced by a tear. 

L/Ove is beautiful and changeless, 
(Love that's pure and utidefiled,) 

Glowing with the same true ardor, 
In the woman, man or child. 



SOUL-FKAGKANCE. 49 



Virtue, priceless beyond rubies, 

In a cro\vn the gem of grace. 
Shines with unabated luster, 

Everj'where among the race. 

Goodness in its various phases, 
Bears the same unselfish aim; 

Justice, charit}^ and mercy, 
Age on age remain the same. 

Truth is truth the wide world over, 
On the scaffold or the throne : 

Crowned or battered, bruised or honored. 
Truth will stand though time be flown. 

Only what is true and changeless, 

Stands on merit of its ow^n. 
Borrows naught and knows no favor, 

Is the real and that alone. 



50 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



HOPE'S RISEN STAR. 



The light that rose on Cliristnias morn, 
Hath ever shone; 'twas never born. 
The star that led the wise men then, 
Still leads the wise, o'er field and fen, 
O'er troubled w^aves and fruitless sands. 
To waters still and pasture lands ; 
Still aids the searcher's onward move, 
Life's problem to resolve and prove, 
Till hope's full measure w^ill attest 
The seeker with fruition blest. 



Still shines the star with fingers bright, 
To point blind ignorance to light; 
The weary to a rest profound. 
The foolish to a wisdom sound; 
The thoughtless unto earnest goals. 
Storm-beaten ones to sheltering folds; 
The erring unto virtue's grace, 
The yearning heart to love's embrace. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 51 



The lame to lean on staffs of Truth, 
The aged to find imiuortal youth; 
The dumb to speak with tongues of fire; 
The deaf to hear the seraphs' choir; 
The sick to consciousness of health, 
The destitute to untold wealth; 
The sorrowing to realms of joy, 
And idle hands to sweet employ. 



That brilliant star still leads the way, 
To where the infant Savior lay, 
Enshrined within material birth, 
At home among the sons of earth, 
Yet mighty to redeem mankind 
From every chain that seems to bind.- 
None can escape that righteous swaj^ 
Salvation is man's destiny! 



These are no broken, tuneless cords. 
No poet's song of empt}^ words; 
No fluttering bird's uncertain note, 
Nor theme sent meaningless afloat. 



52 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



There have been years, decades of j^ears, 
Wherein the light seemed quenched in 

tears; 
When dark oppression's tyrant hand, 
Lay mightily on all the land, 
And hid the star with midnight flood. 
Of clouds imbued with human blood. 
But now the star appears again 
To liberate the souls of men. 



The floods of ignorance disperse, 
Light crowds the waiting universe ; 
Across life's threshold brightly gleams 
The shafts of understanding's beams; 
The scales dropping from mortal eyes. 
They catch a glimpse of paradise. 

The truly wise discern afar 

The appearing of the risen star; 

The star that's hidden in each breast, 

Awaiting the divine behest 

To rise and shine and go before, 

For morning breaks upon life's shore. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 53 



That radiant beam is beauteous Hope, 

With aspiration winged, to ope 

All mysteries; all powers gain; 

All knowledge know; all good attain; 

To prove the w^ise Creator's plan. 

As imaged forth in every man. 

The star hath ever shone and still 
Forevermore will shine, until 
All souls perceive and gently fan 
The light that lighteth every man 
That Cometh into mortal birth, 
And bides awhile a son of earth, 
To living flame ; till stands revealed, 
Unto his inw^ard eyes, unsealed. 
The wondrous Truth the star foretells- 
Divinity in mankind dwells. 



^^ SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



THE PERFECT BALM. 

I sought a balm to heal luy wounds, 
For I was heavily distressed; 

A healing balm whose soothing grace 
Would give me perfect peace and rest. 



Not one that pierced with anguish keen, 
And stung w^ith pain to make anew; 

But one to make one whole indeed, 
And leave no after-scar thereto. 



I'd heard it said that love had power 
To heal and cover sorrows o'er ; 

But, what with parting, change and loss 
They seemed but to increase the more. 



'Twas said that pleasures held a charm 
To banish thought; I proved them well, 

Have tasted, in a measure, all, 

But none my inward griefs dispel. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. ^^^ 



So riches, ease, new scenes, gay throngs, 
They only proved a mocker}^ ; 

The merry laugh and sparkling jest 
Held dregs of bitterness for me. 



I pored o'er ancient books of lore, 
I read the stars till midnight hours, 

I dipped in ocean's mysteries. 

And tore asunder helpless flowers. 



And still I sought, sure there must be, 
For every heart-torn wound and pain, 

A potency that would efface 

Without an added throb or stain. 



And then I cried in agony, 
As many others cry to-day, 

"Oh, can there not a balm be found 
To heal and wipe all grief away? " 



56 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



In answer came a soft ^epl3^ 

As wafted from the distant stars: 
"There is a balm, but only one — 

Truth heals all wounds and leaves no 
scars." 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 57 

ASPIRATION TO INSPIRATION. 

Baptize my soul with living fire, 
And let its sparks rise high and higher, 
Bearing aloft the hearts of men, 
To faint and falter ne'er again. 

So many place their heav'n within 
That hope forlorn — "the might have 

been;" 
Give me the light to teach them how 
Heav'n is within them here and now. 

Open to me the mines of truth: 
Founts of wisdom, love and youth. 
The fields where fadeless flow^ers grow, 
The gates through which the immortals 

go- 
Uncover all the mysteries 
Of life and death; the histories 
Of stars; reveal sweet nature's birth, 
And all the secrets of the earth. 



58 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



I long to know what are the words 
Veiled in the trilling songs of birds; 
What do the winds to the branches sa}'^ 
To make them ^vith such laughter sway? 

What sees the brook on its pebbly floor, 
To dimple -with smiles its face all o'er? 
What dainty viands do flowers eat 
To make their breath so wondrous sweet? 

Explain the strange repose called sleep, 
The fantasy of dreams that sweep 
Untrammeled thought. Untie the 

threads 
Of life's vicissitudes and dreads. 

Untangle fate's perplexing w^eb; 
The unseen power 'neath floTv and ebb. 
Of fortune's smiles, misfortune's frown — 
One day a beggar, next a crown. 

Unseal the scroll of time's long years; 
Unlock the treasures of the spheres; 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 50 



Give me the key to solve the plan 
Of the destiny of man. 

O whisper in mine ear the word — 
The most transporting ever heard, 
To charm away all ills and make 
Humanity of bliss partake! 

'Tis not for gain to self I seek — 

But for the w-eal of man I'd speak, 

Him his inheritance to bring, 

And with all knowledge crown him king. 

Then nought withhold, give more and 

more 
From out of thine exhaustless store, 
To fill all lives with holy zeal, 
Awaken hearts and make them feel. 

As line on line thought follows thought, 
O inspiration, heaven enfraught! 
Out to the world it swift shall glide, 
And mingle with the human tide. 



60 SOUL-FRAGKANCE. 



A faithful messenger I'll be, 

A true interpreter for thee; 

O voice of God! thyself declare, 

Through aspiration's fervent prayer. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 61 



THE REPOSE OF THE SOUL. 

It matters not what sense declares, 
Sweet songs my soul is singing, 

And though my tears fall fast, I know 
To what my soul is clinging. 

No matter what my attitude, 

Erect, or prostrate laying, 
On bended knee, hands clasped or not, 

My soul is always praying. 

No matter hoy^r m}^ hours are tried. 
With error forms contending; 

In patient trust my soul abides, 
Knowing the powrer defending. 

No matter if m}'^ feet oft stray. 

When grief and pain are stalking; 

In sw^eet repose my soul divine 
With God is ever walking. 



62 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



A GOLDEN REED. 

A reed that measures faultless, 
And lies so close at hand, 

That simplj'- for the taking 
All have at their command. 

Its beaten, polished surface 
Is studded thick and deep 

With many precious jewels 
That age on ages keep. 

Or, it ma}'^ chance, neglected, 
The jewels fade and rust. 

And rankle sharp e'en after 
Dust has returned to dust. 

Whatever it proportions, 
It marks with jealous care; 

If rightly used or wrongly, 
It varies not a hair. 



SOUI^FRAGRANCE. 63 



There's naught so great nor holj- 

Nor infinitely small, 
But that this golden measure 

Exactness deals to all. 

And though so lightly handled, 
Its measurement is law 

That never can be broken, 
So should be used with awe. 

This golden reed is simply 
The golden rule so true — 

The measure that you measure 
Will sure return to you. 



64 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



MY FAIR PHYSICIAN. 

Through long, dark, tiresome midnight 
hours, 

Through many a weary day, 
Upon a couch, with suffering racked, 

I tossing, moaning lay ; 
Moons set, suns rose, yet no relief — 

Pain did all hope consume; 
I w^ondered did God's sun still shine. 

Or was earth wrapped in gloom. 

A kindly, cheerful, smiling friend 

Came in my darkened room, 
Threw open w^ide the long-closed blinds, 

And light chased out the gloom; 
Then close beside my couch of pain 

She set a primrose, w^here 
My weary eyes could rest and feast 

Upon its freshness fair. 

'Twas but a speechless, w^ax-like flow'r, 
'Twas fragile, white and weak; 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 65 

Yet in its blossoms, rich and cool, 

I buried nay hot cheek; 
And from that dainty flow'ret pale 

New strength I gleaned each day. 
For while I watched its beauteous bloom 

My pain stole soft away. 



66 SOULr-FRAGRANCE. 



WHAT IS GOD? 

God is the goodness of the good, 

The glory of the great ; 
God is the beauty of the soul, 

And its entire estate. 

God is the justice of the just, 

The wisdom of the wise, 
The knowledge of the knowing one, 

The life that never dies. 

God is the power of the strong, 
The courage of the brave, 

The victory of the conqueror. 
The freedom of the slave. 

God is the love of loving ones, 
The crown of every goal, 

The virtue of the pure in heart, 
The wholeness of the whole. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 67 

God is the light that ever shines, 

The majesty of might, 
The meekness of humility, 

The righteousness of right. 

God is the splendor of the stars, 

The music of the spheres. 
The breath of flowers, the glow of suns. 

The endlessness of years. 

God is the ocean, limitless. 
That doth all springs supply; 

God is the "I am that I am," 
The Self of every "I." 



68 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



HIDDEN. YET THERE. 

There is a hidden window^ 
In the soul of every man, 

Though dust-begrimed and covered 
By many a cobweb span. 

Though frosts of life's hard winter 
Conceal its cr3^stal panes, 

In all its primal beaut}^ 
The w^indow still remains. 

O'erspread and well nigh buried 
With grow^th of error's w^eeds; 

Environed, choked, bespattered 
With dogmas, cant, and creeds. 

Yet sometime, somewhere, surely, 
In the here, or after here, 

A strong hand's mighty sweeping 
Will show it shining clear. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 69 



A shower from heav'n descending, 

Or wave of sacred heat, 
Will cleanse and burn and harrow 

The barriers down complete. 

No soul so dark, so withered. 

But has its window fair, 
And He whose hand has fashioned, 

Will also find it there. 

It is a perfect window; 

Four-square, transparent, clean; 
And love divine will pierce it 

Till through the light is seen. 



70 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



THE KEY OF LIFE. 



Oh where shall we search for the key 
That will solve the problem of life? 

Is it lost in the labyrinth of time, 
Midst the tumult of toil and strife? 

Is it covered with mold and rust, 
By the waters of grief and pain? 

Is it hid from the gaze of men 
By the getting of sordid gain? 

Is it buried with those who are gone, 
The beautiful, good, and great? 

Nay, that can not be ; there are still 
So manj'^ who search and wait. 

So the problem is here to be solved, 
How man shall eternallj^ live; 

And somewhere is hidden the key, 
The answer correctly to give. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 71 



Then where shall we search? Knowest 
thou 

A secret place no one may find, 
But he who alone guards the gate 

Of the innermost temple of mind? 

Ah, there lies the mystical key. 
As perfect as truth and as bright, 

But waiting in beauty and strength 
To be brought into living daylight. 

Then would'st thou be w^ise in thy 
search. 
And the problem of life understand, 
Seek the true in thyself, and the key 
Thou wilt hold in thy strong right 
hand. 



72 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



WHICH? 

I am in love with Love — God-Love, 

And I would fain 
Entw^ine it in my heart of hearts, 

For righteous gain. 

I am in love with Good — All-Good, 

And I will feed 
M}^ soul upon its substance sure, 

With lavish greed. 

I am in love with Truth — God-Truth; 

E'en now^ I feel 
Its potency omnipotent 

All ills to heal. 



I am in love with Light — God-Light, 
And now through me 

It shall reflect the God-derived 
Divinity. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 73 



I am in love with Mind — God-Mind; 

In It I see 
The Wisdom, Power, Intelligence, 

That is for me. 

I am in love with Peace — God-Peace; 

It bathes my soul 
With waters tranquil, pure and sweet, 

Which make me w^hole. 

And I will love; love more and more, 

Drawing to me 
The all of Love that is contained 

In Deity. 

Then will I permeated be, — 

Dyed with its dye, — 
Until I know not which is Love, 

Or which is I. 



74 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



FOR PITY'S SAKE. 



Sad eyed pity, pale with weeping, 
Leaned her face upon her hand, 

Grief in every line depicted. 
As she gazed athwart the land. 

Pity's soul was very tender. 
Very gentle, pure and true; 

Held indeed all noble virtues, 
Still she knew not what to do. 



How her heart w^as wrung with anguish. 

As her efforts to assuage 
Human yvoe, or lessen sorrow^. 

Were unheeded age on age. 

Here were millions upon millions, 
Pressed to earth with grievous care; 

Seen or unseen, every creature 
Did some heavy burden bear. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 75 



"If I had but wings," she faltered, 
"That would cover everyone, 

'Neath the shadow of my nature, 
Something hapl}^ might be done. 

"If my hands could be divided. 

Into myriad hands — ah, then 
I could lift the tiresome burdens, 

Crushing out the hopes of men. 

"If my eyes could weep in torrents 
That would wash away all woe. 

Sightless, through eternal ages, 
I would be content to go. 

"If my heart in countless fragments, 
Wet with life-blood could be torn, 

Giving each a mite of pity, 

There might come a glorious morn. 

"All earth's treasures," low she mur- 
mured, 
"All the world has to bestow, 



76 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



Were they mine, I'd gladly forfeit, 
For the power to conquer woe. 

" If there's aught in earth or heaven, 
That can misery's shackles break, 

Angels, ministers of love," she pleaded, 
"Send redress for pity's sake!" 

O'er her head an angel hovering, 

Heard her murmurings as she wept; 

Gathered up her tears and waited 
Till she bowed her head and slept. 

Now the angel — thought embodied — 
Preened its wings that covered space ; 

Spread its hands vidth myriad fingers. 
Touched the brow^ of many a face; 

Waking there a new-born impulse, 

Clad with love that deifies; 

Warmed it into life and being, 

With a tear from pity's eyes. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



77 



Then with magic touch so deftly, 
That no eye could catch its art, 

Sealed it with a tiny fragment 
Of sweet pity's broken heart. 

Years on years did pity slumber, 
With her head upon the rock; 

But one morning came the angel. 
And her eyelids soft unlock. 

Opened were her lips, but speechless, 
Overwhelmed with glad surprise, 

As she gazed adown the valley 
At the sight that met her eyes. 

Gone were all the weary burdens, 
Heartache, want, grief and despair; 

Opulence and peace and gladness 
Reigned abundant everywhere. 

On a throne sat sombre justice, 
At her side stood radiant love. 



78 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



Who with gentle, warm caresses, 
Oft her fingers softly glove. 

Purity clasped hands with beauty, 
Hope embraced faith's holy light; 

Truth stood firml}^; freedom fearless; 
Honor arm in arm with right. 



Every heart burned with compassion; 

S3^mpathy lit every face; 
Who or what had wrought this blessing: 

Heaven and hell exchanging place! 

Pity gazed and gazed in -wonder, 

Wiping happy tears away, 
Thinking of the woeful misery 

She had seen but yesterday. 

Thinking of her heart's entreaty, 
With unselfish longing fraught. 

Till her very being melted, 
As it were, into a thought. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 79 



Thought, with omnipresent piniotis; 

Thought, omnipotent to do; 
Thought, omniscient, all-creative; 

Still she questioned what, and who? 

Then the angel, o'er her hovering, 

Seeing she was quite distraught, 
Wreathed her brow with lilies, whisper- 
ing. 
"Done, all done by pity's thought." 



80 so UL-FK AGKANCE. 



LITTLE WHITE ROSE. 

Once walking abroad, I chanced to spy, 
On a highway where vast crowds passed 

by, 
A little white rose w^ith a modest air, 
Dispersing its fragrance everywhere. 

I drank deep draughts of its odors sweet 
To permeate every sense complete; 
With admiration and awe combined, 
I gazed on the loveliness there confined . 

And many besides myself were there. 
Noting the grace of this flowret fair. 
None feared to gaze, for all were en- 
chained 
With the perfect purity there unfeigned. 

There were dauntless eyes and eyes full 

of fears ; 
Some swimming in laughter, vtheis in 

tears ; 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 81 



Sotue were beclouded with error and 

crime, 
Some softened with youth, others dim'd 

w^ith time. 

There were royal eyes with the lofty 

stare, 
And orbs of the dark-browed sou were 

there; 
But a shower of fragrance this little 

white rose 
Alike and as lavish on all bestows. 

Its velvet leaves were not folded away, 
As if "I am holier than thou," they'd say; 
Nor its golden petals drawn coldly with- 
in, 
As if they avoided pollution and sin. 

But its beauty and fragrance went out to 

all; 
It shrank from none, either great or 

small; 



82 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



It had no fear for degraded or vile, 
So pure in itself it kne\\r no guile. 

Thou emblem of innocence rare to see, 
Would that earth's habitants learned of 

thee 
The lesson thou dost so gently impart, 
A blossom so sweet of the pure in heart. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 83 



THE UNKNOWN. 



Into the unknown deep I plunge; 

Faith is my leading star; 
Hope is the radiance whose fair beams 

Lighteth the way afar. 



Patience the guard and love the guide; 

Wisdom the beckoning hand, 
Into the regions broad and vast, 

Nigh to this unseen land. 



Turbulent seas I know must be crossed, 
Billows, though dashing high; 

But o'er the waters dark I'll hear, 
"Be not afraid, 'tis I! " 



Over mountains rugged and steep. 

Wearily I must climb, 
Fainting perhaps, by the wayside lone. 

Many and man}- a time. 



84 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



Into valleys where shadows hirk, 

In the fanciful light of fear; 
But even of Death— the monster grim — 

Only a shadow^ is here. 



Courage will strengthen as step by step 
Onward my feet are pressed : 

Thorny and rough the path may be, 
But after, how sweet the rest! 



Dimly I see, outlined in the deep, 
A thousand undreamed-of joys; 

Visions of glorified being, w^hich 
Kvery endow^ment employs. 



Faith will become fruition, then; 

Hope will be certainty"; 
Patience, experience satisfied; 

Love will be constancy. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 85 



Struggle will calm to blest repose; 

Fear into joy intense; 
And wisdom encompass all the 
knoivn — 

The goal of my recompense. 



soul-frac;rance. 



I AM FREE. 



One dark, dark night I asked the stars, 
That glinted through the sunset bars, 
Glittering with resplendence bright, 
And quivering with jo3^'s delight, 
To list awhile to my appeal; 
The secret tell me of their weal; 
To give me w^ords to rend my fate, 
My heavy chains to mitigate; 
And such strange words fell on mine 

ears. 
While I sat gazing through my tears. 
That seemed to come from the lofty blue 
Borne on the wings of starlit dew. 
And gently guided straight to me, 
"O soul, cry out, I am free! I am free!" 

And sitting in the shadow land, 

I heard but could not understand; 

I shook my head and turned mj' face 

To where the flowers grew apace. 

I thought the}" could more plainly hear — 



SOUl -FRAGRANCE. 87 



Perhaps because they were more near — 
My sad lament, my heavy sigh, 
Than the glorious stars so far on high; 
And true, they did; in a moment fleet 
There came a waft of fragrance sweet. 
Dashing against ni}'^ fevered heart, 
With the tenderest touch love could im 

part, 
But the words I heard were the same to 

me, 
"O soul, cry out, I am free! I am free!" 

I gazed upon them in their beds; 
My woe had turned their pretty heads, 
I'll ask the birds; in their warbles sweet 
I'll surely find some w^ord that's meet. 
To lift m}^ gloom, release my breast, 
Bnslaved with shadows of unrest; 
But w^hen I told them of tny woe. 
They warbled wildly and fluttered so 
I only caught 'niong the merry notes 
Caroling from their sunny throats, 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



Those same strange words sung right at 

me, 
•'Cry out, O soul, I am free! T am free!" 

T bowed my head; they did but dream. 
I'll go and ask the sparkling stream; 
It bubbles and chatters in plainer \vords 
Than stars or flowers or even birds. 
So I told it how my heart was bound 
With triple chains; my soul nigh 

drowned 
In sorrow; senses tied and oh! 
For a word to overthrow — 
And the rippling streamlet dimpled with 

glee, 
As it gurgled, "O soul, cry out, 1 am 

free!" 

"What do they mean?" I cried at last — 
Just then a laughing zeplij-r past; 
I turned and grasping caught it quick — 
My soul with hope deferred vi'as sick — 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



But when I told tny woeful tale, 
It swelled into a perfect gale, 
And frolicked, whistling about my ears, 
Kissing my eyelids, drying my tears. 
Cooling my brow and fanning my cheek, 
And seemed to trj'^ so hard to speak. 
But only the same words came to me, 
"O soul, cry out, I am free! I am free!" 



I answered then in sheer despair, 

" You dear, dumb things so sw^eet and 

fair, 
How crushed I am, if 3'ou could see 
I know you would tell me the power to 

be 
Released, set free." "Soul of unrest. 
The dear, dumb things have done their 

best, 
For each in turn, star, flower and bird. 
Has given 3'ou the freedom word." 
I turned and saw close bj^ my side, 
A soul I felt to mine allied; 



90 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



His eyes were bright as stars, and sweet 
His breath as flowers beneath his feet; 
His smile outshone the dimpled brook; 
His voice, deeper than w^hirl-winds, took 
Its strength and beauty from the bird. 
As in sublimest tones ere heard, 
He bade me saj^ that I am free, 
Whatever chains w^ere binding me. 
"In every word is a spirit true, 
That surely will return to you. 
The seed that in the word doth nest, 
A brood of w^oes or harvests of rest," 
He said; "And if 'tis thus 3''ou'll be. 
Send forth the words, I am free! free! 
free!" 



SOUL-FKAGKANCE. 91 



THE ARK OF REST. 



On the storm-tossed sea of perpetual 

thought, 
I beheld an ark. It was richly inwrought 
Within and without— a perfected whole, 
Suggesting the sweetest repose for the 

soul. 



O'er the heaving billows it glided along, 
As joyous and free as an angel's song; 
Nor heeded the turbulence fierce and 

high, 
No more than a mother's sweet lullaby. 



But it soothed and calmed in a thousand 

ways, 
As oil on the troubled water allays, 
And it left in its wake a trail of light, 
Like the bow in the clouds dissolved to 

white. 



92 SOUL-FRAGKANCE. 



For its keel was Truth and its beams 

were strength; 
Its height and depth and its breadth and 

length 
Were fulness of life, while its star-board 

ray 
Reflected a radiance night and day. 



Its windows the raven of doubt release; 
Through its open door came the dove of 

peace; 
And glinting the prow of its noble 

breast, 
Inipearled in the gold were the words, "I 

re»t," 



It was built in the morn of the sweet, 

"Be still," 
With the noiseless hand of the power, "I 

will;" 
And the souls therein when the work 

was done, 



SOUL-FEAGKANCE. 9S 



Were the same in heart and of purpose 
one. 



As I looked for the name of the glorious 

ark, 
Like sunburst gleam it flashed through 

the dark, 
Illumining earth as the heavens above, 
With its simple beauty — the oneness of 

love. 



94 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



THE FOUNT OF LOVE. 



Within a region bleak and bare 
A fountain sprang to life; 

With softening, fertilizing power, 
Its crystal spray was rife. 



Where'er its pure drops, gleaming, fell. 
New verdure quickly sprung; 

Until the barren rocks and hills 
With rich profusion hung. 

The wasted wilderness became 

A fragrant, flower}^ bed; 
And blossoms, rich in ever}^ hue, 

The dreary desert spread; 

Whose lavish, generating seed. 
When sprinkled b}-- the fount. 

Increased ten-fold the I beauteous store, 
A harvest passing count. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 95 



The fount flowed on: a broad'ning 
stream, 

That wound its course among 
The valleys till it reached the plains, 

Nor there it tarried long. 

But gliding north and flowing south. 
Branched to'ard the east and west, 

Where trees with never- v/ithering leaves 
Grew on its bank's warm breast. 

And bore imperishable fruit 

Of love's ripe, golden yield, 
Till earth, transformed and glorified, 

A glimpse of heaven revealed. 

O blessed fountain! once again 

We hail thy hol}^ birth; 
Flow on and on, a mighty stream, 

And water all the earth. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



LIKE UNTO LIKE. 



Upon which streams of life, my friend, 
Have you unfurled 3^our sail? 

Do some of them seem ne'er to bend, 
And adverse storms prevail? 

Do poverty, disease and death, 

With folly, grief and sin. 
Seem to assail at every breath. 

And hedge your vessel in? 

Then veer about, my comrade dear. 
With purpose firm and true; 

Get into waters broad and clear, 
Rush into channels new. 

Get in the stream of wealth and note 

How circumstances lift; 
How swift and smooth your bark will 
float. 

For gold to gold will drift. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 97 



Get in the stream of health and see 
How strength the helm will sieze; 

For health and vital power can be 
Contagious as disease. 

Get in the stream where wisdom dives 

For pearls of hidden lore, 
And learn how quickly knowledge 
thrives, 

And more will add to more. 



Get in the merry stream and see 
What joy your heart can feel; 

For laughter echoes merrily, 
And peal will follow peal. 



Get in the stream of virtue pure, 
And taste its waters sweet; 

Prove for yourself how very sure 
Birds of a plumage meet. 



98 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



Get in the stream of life, my friend, 
A stream we all may know; 

A sea whose "waters never end, 
For like to like will flow. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 99 



A SIMILITUDE. 



A thousand leaves of a lovely rose, 
To the passing breezes given, 

Were quickly scattered by unseen hands. 
O'er earth to the gates of heaven. 

They carried them here and there about, 

With fingers soft and fair, 
Dropping them gently, one by one, 

In the great land, "Everywhere." 

So the thousand leaves of this lovely 
flow'r. 

Touched a thousand hearts that day. 
Lifting them up from the dust of earth. 

From the reach of illusion's sway. 

There was healing balm in these velvet 
leaves. 
Of daintiest pink and white ; 



100 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



There was oil of joy which calmed and 
soothed, 
As well as a ray of light. 

There was health, and strength, and 
hope, and peace, 

A potency that could cheer. 
And a mystic power that all unseen, 

Could banish the sense of fear. 



Each leaf had a fragrance all its own, 

As well as a beauty rare, 
And it nestled deep in the heart it 
touched. 

Breathing its perfume there. 

Then a glad, new song arose from the 
hearts, 
Late burdened with grief and ache,— 
A beautiful hymn whose sweet word< 
told 
That other souls were awake, 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 101 



To bud and bloom in a thousand leaves, 
As pure as the Truth, to bear 

The fragrant beauty of godliness 
In the land of " Everywhere." 



102 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



WHO ART THOU? 



1 met a gentle youth most -wondrous fair, 
The sunlight gleamed amid his waving 

hair, 
Celestial blue his kindly, patient eyes, 
Wherein a world of hidden mystery lies. 

I followed him w^here'er his footsteps 

bent, 
As swiftl}^ to and fro he came and w^ent, 
In palace, cottage, hovel, da^' and night. 
No contact soiled his garments, spotless 

white. 



I saw^ him sit beside the famished poor. 
And feed them from some secret, un- 
known store; 
I saw him lift with tender, soft embrace, 
A mortal fallen in life's hurried race. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 103 



He burdens raised of seen and unseen 

weight; 
Kindness returned for undeserving hate; 
A bloMT, if aimed at him, he'd deftly miss, 
And straightway'' give the offender's 

cheek a kiss. 

He hid youth's folly; over censure's eyes 
Placed soft his hand; with timely word 

disguise 
Bold slander's tongue; bade malice 

cease, 
And silenced discord with harmonious 

peace. 



He stirred life's sweets in many a bitter 

cup, 
Withheld the hand that would of error 

sup; 
Uprooted sharpest thorns and foulest 

weeds, 
Implanting in their stead flower-bearing 

seeds; 



104 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



Infused new hope into despairing souls; 

Led back the lost to rectitude's fair 
goals, 

And tripping softly, lightly here and 
there, 

He gathered up life's tear drops every- 
where. 

"O, youth!" I cried, "pray tell me who 

art thou? 
And whence this light effulgent on thy 

brow? 
Whence earnest thou? Hast thou an 

abiding place? 
Methinks where'er I go that step I 

trace." 



"I came not, for I always was," said he; 
"I am, and nevermore shall cease to be; 
God's universe is my abode; this light, 

heaven's glow. 
Yet few behold me, or beholding, know." 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 105 



Then rising, with his garments flutter- 
ing white, 

He vanished from my rapt, bewildered 
sight; 

But sweetly came the last of his reply, 

In soft, clear voice, "Immortal love am I!" 



106 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



THE LIVING SOUL. 



One pure, white ray of perfect light, 
Emerging from the Whole; 

An issue forth from Deit3^ 
Is ever}^ living soul. 

Its face turns inward to that Light 

From w^hence it emanates; 
Its work well done, back to its Source 

It swiftly gravitates. 

Its feet are tireless as they climb 

The ladder of its "days," 
And ever from its holy lips 

There come but words of praise. 

One hand holds fast its grasp on God, 

The other feels its wa}^ 
And gathers up the glistening threads 

Of knowledge day on day ; 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 107 



Until it weaves a robe more fair 
Than tongue can ere express, 

And clothes itself with wisdom, peace, 
Love, joy and righteousness; 



With meekness, power and majesty. 
With nameless beauty, too. 

And learns the secret how to make 
Old things forever new. 



Sin, illness, dissolution, grief, — 
None of these errors clutch 

The Soul of souls which is for aye, 
With Deity in touch. 

But inward, broad, and deep, and 
high. 

Expanding as it j^earns, 
It sees afar its native goal, 

To which it now returns. 



108 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



With e^^es fixed steadfast on that Light, 

Its steps it will retrace, 
Back, whence it came from God, to God, 

Till meeting face to face. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 109 



A ROCK IN THE MOUNTAIN'S BREAST. 

In a weary land I wandered, 

Tired of limb and sore of heart; 
All my sordid riches squandered 

In an unrequiting mart. 
Hungry, thirsty, sick with sadness. 

Lonely, though a host surround; 
Faint with weakness, blind with mad- 
ness, 

Prone I lay upon the ground. 

Hot and dry mine eyes were burning, 

With a dim, uncertain light, 
When, uplifting them with yearning. 

In the distance — what a sight! 
One great Rock, clean-cleft, projecting 

From a towering mountain's breast, 
Stretching out, with sense protecting, 

Beckoning me to come and rest. 

Gathering up my strength remaining, 
On I went, though weak and lame; 



110 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



And it seemed the Rock was straining 

To approach me as I came; 
Seemed a living, moving being, 

Girt with an ahnighty strength, 
As unto its presence fleeing, 

Underneath I stood at length. 

Hidden from life's hot confusions, 

Covered from the rain of scorn; 
Shielded from its bright illusions. 

Mantled from its blasts forlorn; 
In the crevices I nestled. 

Walled securely round about, 
With the world no more I wrestled, 

Guarded thus from all without. 



O the shelter of that mountain's 
Massive, overshading Rock! 

Like the famished to a fountain 
Would the world-enwearied flock, 

Did they know how gently tender. 
Soft as peace with love enrife, 



SOUI/-FKAGRANCE. Ill 



Falls its shadows, but to reuder, 
Unto all the perfect life. 



112 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



THOUGHT AND I. 



Thought and I went wandering idh'^ 

Over life's entrancing plain; 
Given the reins we traversed widely. 

Letting naught our steps retain. 

Sought we late and sought we early, 
Jeweled meadows, blossoms gay; 

Golden sunlight, streamlets pearlj^ 
Danced before us all the way. 

Softly midst their green leaves dream- 
ing. 

Blushing roses thickly lie, 
In their fragrant beauty seeming 

But to bloom for thought and I, 

Till replete and overflowing, 

We of sweetness heedless grow; 

Turn aside, no care bestowing 
Whither now we wandering go. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 113 



Then 'tis thorns and withered grasses 
That we find as closely by; 

FilHng up the waj^side passes, 
Seemingly for thought and I. 

Even when the air was cheery 
With a sweet, jnelodions hum, 

If we looked for storm-clouds dreary, 
They would never fail to come. 



Till we grew so chilled and saddened 
Hope breathed but a bitter sigh; 

Sunny life no longer gladdened 
Heavy-hearted thought and I; 



So we turned from paths so lonely, 
Sought again the bright and fair, 

And we found them, waiting only 
To be gathered, everywhere. 



114 SOUI<-FRAGRANCE. 



Thought and I, experience reaching, 
Drew tlie reins wliere gloom reclined; 

Having learned the lesson teaching 
What we seek for, that we find. 



SOUI-FRAGRA.\'CE. 115 



A DROP OF GOLD. 



A golden drop fell at my feet, 

I raised my eye from whence it came, 

And found to my surprise and J03 % 

The fields and hills with beauty flame. 

Not one, but countless leaves of gold, 
With mj'^riads dipped in wine's deep 

And scarlet branches, flecked with green, 
In loveliest confusion groAV. 

The crimson shrub and purple vine 
Mongst silvery foliage deftl}' weaves; 

Until all lines of summer's flowers 
Survive again in autumn leaves. 

A veil of amber, soft as sleep, 
O'er all in restful beauty lay; 

And wrapped within its dreamy folds, 
] knew no more of earth's decay. 



116 SOUL-FRAGKANCE. 



This was death's season, so 'twas said, 
And I, downcast, had walked the earth, 

Not know^ing that vi^hich men call death 
Is resurrection through new birth. 

I'd trod upon the brown, damp leaves. 
That seemed to whisper, all are dead, 

And had not thought to lift mj^ eyes 
And see w^hat tnight be overhead. 

But with the drop of gold there came 
A message clothed in heav'n's arra}'; 

It bade my soul look up and see, 
All that lives well, lives on alwav. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 117 



REGENERATED. 



I see new beauty everywhere! 

The universal earth 
Looks bright and beautiful, as if 

Rejoicing in new birth. 



The glories of the springtime ne'er 
Have seemed so sweet before, 

B'en though for many a passing year 
I've scanned them o'er and o'er. 



The myriad flowers, unfolding soft, 

The sunset's roseate hue, 
Hold marvels of a rich surprise 

That are to me quite new^. 

The firmament, so darkly deep, 

The stars without a flaw, 
Enchain my lips, withhold my breath, 

With admiration's awe. 



118 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



In every passing face I meet, 

Those hitherto unfair, 
I see a sweetness, beauty, wit, 

A something lovely there. 

And w^hat has w^rought this w^ondrous 
change 

Abroad in all the land, 
That no one seems to share with me, 

I can not understand. 



I ask of friends, "See you no change 
In season, flower, or face? 

"Nay," they reply, " 'tis all the same, 
No difference can we trace." 



I turn to learned books and search 
Their volumes through and through, 

But find the mystery unexplained 
In ancient lore or new^. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 119 



So, one by one I lay them all 

Away upon the shelf, 
And stop — ah, now I think I see — 

The change is in myself ! 



120 SOUl^FRAGRANCE. 



SONNET. 

The breaking clouds loom in the western sky, 
And point the ether blue like gold-tipped 

wedge, 
As daj'light, lingering, rests on twilight's edge 
To breathe a soft good-night as stars draw 

nigh. 
The storm has spent its iury, grand and wild, 
Has ceased to hurl its fierce clouds through 

the air. 
Night's somber mantle falls with gentle care 
On nature, sleeping as a wearied child; 
Fierce tempests oft are followed by great calm, 
As deepest shadows fall from strongest light; 
And thus the soul, emerging from earth's 

bhght, 
Draws near the close of life's tempestuous 

psalm, 
Directs its eyes to peaceful hills above, 
And rests securely in the arms of Love. 



SOUL-PKAGRANCE. 121 



THE MIDNIGHT HOUR. 

There's a destined goal when the storm-swept 
soul, 

Must drift in its fragile bark; 

When no human will can the \<raters still, 

Nor cleave a rift in the dark. 

When the heavens eclipse, and the dark dew^ 
drips 

On the boundless sea of night ; 
And the faith star laves in the purple waves, 

And leaves not a trace of light. 

When the chastening rod prompts the cry, 
"My God ! 

Why hast thou forsaken me?" 
And the cruel pain leaves a crimson stain, 

On the crucifixion tree. 

Tis the helpless hour when no mortal power 
Can rescue, though near and dear; 

For an unseen hand holds the destined land, 
And alone the bark doth steer. 



122 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



'Tis the midnight hush ere that glad day's 
flush, 
When the sun shall ne'er go dow^n; 
When the chaplet of thorn from the brow will 
be torn, 
For a conqueror's glowing crown. 

'Tis the burial gloom of the rock-bound tomb 

In which each soul is born. 
Ere the angels nigh with triumphant crj^ 

Break the resurrection morn. 

In the final strife for the higher life 

The struggling soul will meet 
The eternal clasp, the omnipotent grasp 

In a unity complete. 



SOUL-FKAGKANCfi. 123 



SPIRITUAL ALTITUDE. 

When the realui of thought 1 wander, 

Wrapt in solitude intense, 
Soul and body cleave asunder, 

Time and thought are lost to sense. 

Clothed with brightness as th' Eternal, 

Vests a never-setting sun, 
Winged aloft to heights supernal, 

Motionless I journey on. 

O, how vast, how grand, how boundless! 

Wave on wave of light appears; 
Yet the silence is all soundless. 

Save the music of the spheres. 

E're before me burns a jewel 

In a golden splendor set, 
Dipped in flame of holy fuel, 

Beckoning higher, higher yet. 



124 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



And afar I see the confine 
Of a city long been sought — 

Strong, eternal, bathed in sunshine, 
Built by pure, celestial thought. 

Then I'm filled with heaven-born long- 
ing; 

Aspirations grand outpour; 
Love and hope and transport thronging, 

Flood m}^ being o'er and o'er. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 125 



OLIVET. 

After the toil of the busy day, 
Thoughtfully treading the lonely way, 
Up to the mountain he went alway, 
Jesus, our elder brother. 

Soft is his step on the dewy sod, 
Ne'er before by such patient feet trod; 
Climbing, he reaches the bosom of God, 
Jesus, our elder brother. 

Olivet! mountain of holy peace. 
Whither he goeth his strength to in- 
crease. 
Knowing his need till the conflict ceaae, 
Jesus our elder brother. 

High up the mountain, away from the 

din 
Made by the warfare and battle with ain, 



126 SOUL-FKAGRANCE. 



Wrapped in the Silence, communing 
within, 

Jesus, our elder brother. 



Jesus for all mankind to provide, 
Findeth the path up the mountain side, 
Leaving the print of his feet to guide 
Up to the top of the mountain. 



Then thither thy footsteps bend at eve, 
Grace to replenish, strength to receive; 
Fast to the Rock in the mountain 
cleave. 

Rest on the Heart eternal. 



When to earth's valley again ye go, 
Down to the multitude waiting below, 
Take in thy lips the branch to bestow, 

Gleaned on the mount of Olives. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 127 



Olivet! radiant with Love divine, 
Knowing no darkness at day's decline; 
With a peace-benediction past define,-^ 
God in His holy temple. 



128 SOUI^FRAGRANCE. 

LET LOVE BEAM. 

O let love beam! Send forth its rays afar, 
From earth's deep heart to the remotest star; 
And let its sparkling splendor, pure and 

white 
Like showers of diamonds on the world 

alight. 

When through the heart — its prism — 'twill 

radiate, 
And break in vivid colors, animate 
With life and joy and beauty — blessings rich, 
'Twill pierce each crevice and the darkest 

niche. 

Thus will its living green and violet blue 
Vibrate with hope the days of dismal hue; 
Its brilliant crimson, with its paler fold, 
Will light with trust the misty mornings cold. 

Aye, let its brightly gleaming, golden light, 
Flash mid-day sun on poverty's dark night. 



SOUI/-FRAGRANCE. 129 

And let its lustrous shining glimmer where 
Bruised hearts are breaking neath their load 
of care. 

O let love beam! Its powers so manifold, 
Encourages the weak, subdues the bold; 
'Twill raise the veil of sorrow and dry up 
The scalding tears that fill life's bitter cup. 

Then looks of agony and cries of pain, 
Will break in sunn}' smiles and laughter's 

strain; 
The direful art of war no more be known, 
For liberty will be the whole world's throne. 

Note how God's love-beams tint the roses 

fair. 
Blending the fragrance and the beaut}^ rare, 
And how they interchange — the scent and 

glow — 
Thus love reacts to bless the giver so. 



130 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

Then let love beam! Its soft, warm, tender 

rays, 
So subtle, penetrate life's deepest maze; 
All hardships melt beneath its magic touch, 
Which costs so little and which yields so 

much. 



SOUL-FRAGRAXCE. 131 

RESURRECTION MORN. 

blest resurrection! I w'^ake from death's 

dream, 

1 bathe in Truth's waters and drink of 

Its stream; 
Mine eyes softly open as buds in the 

spring, 
And God I see shining through ever}^- 

thing. 

The birds have Its voice, and the trees 
have Its robe, 

The hill-tops re-echo It. thrilling the 
globe; 

The streams bear Its smile and the sea- 
waves Its laugh, 

The vnnd breathes Its secret while scat- 
tering earth's chaff. 

The stars are Its ej^es in the blue vault 

above, 
The sun is the wealth and breadth of Its 

Love; 



132 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

The clouds are Its presence by night and 
by day, 

The moon's placid light speaks Its pow- 
er's gentle sway. 

From the breath of the flowers to Niaga- 
ra's sweep, 

From the unfettered beast to the worms 
that creep, 

From the mystic bow to a bee on the 
wing, 

I see the Creator through ever3^thing. 

Invisible God! through the things that 

are seen, 
We dimly perceive what creation may 

mean; 
Till we penetrate through them with 

truth-opened eyes. 
And see that behind them there silently 

lies, 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 133 

A glory, a grandeur, that all shall see 
clear. 

That heart shall conceive and the veil-ed 
ear hear, 

What now is so deftly, so wisely con- 
cealed, 

Till the full resurrection of man is re- 
vealed. 



134 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

I AM. 
I am stronger than my fears, 
I am wiser than my years, 
I am gladder than my tears, 
For I am His image. 

I am greater than my pains, 
I am richer than my gains, 
I am purer than my stains, 
For I am His image. 

I am grander than my names, 
I am broader than my claims, 
I am nobler than my aims, 
For I am His image. 

I am better than my deeds, 
I am holier than my creeds, 
I am worthier than my needs. 
For I am His image. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 135 

I am truer than I seem, 
And more gracious than I deem, 
And more real than I dream, 
For I am His image. 

I have naught with death or birth; 
I encompass heaven and earth; 
Measureless my power and worth, 
For I am His image. 

He whose image thus I bear. 
And whose likeness I shall share. 
All His glory will declare. 

Through the "I" — His image. 



136 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



PEARLS OF TRUTH 



"What is truth?" have asked the sages, 
Step by step throughout the ages. 

Human need the answer gauges 

Through its pearls from sacred pages. 



"Living water," from a fountain, 
Flowing at the soul's demand; 

Springing from a Rock whose greatness 
Shadows in a w^eary land. 

"Bread of heaven" daily falling 
From above — life-giving food; 

Eaten without fear of scarceness, 
And for every hunger good. 

"Oil of joy" upon the waters, 
Troubled after morning's calm; 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 137 



Stilling every throbbing heart-wave, 
With its peaceful, healing balm. 

"Tree of life" whose pleasant fruitage. 

Yielding everlasting store, 
All may reach, and freely gathering. 

Eat and live forevermore. 

"Holy crest of Zion's mountain," 
Worn with paths of righteousness, 

From whose Horeb heights there 
shineth 
Full perfection, man to bless. 

"Morning star" whose radiant bright- 
ness 
Glows undimmed through error's 
night, 
And whose rays, from the beginning, 
Uttereth itself in light. 



138 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

"Corner stone," so oft rejected 
By the builders with disdain; 

Knowing not on this foundation 
Winds and floods descend in vain. 

Royal "seamless garment," woven 
Without either flaw^ or rent; 

Touching but its hem of knowledge 
Is the truest sacrament. 

"Comforter," all wise and holy, 
Bearing on its snow-white v^dngs 

Honey, from the Rock, that sweetens 
Many very bitter things. 

"Kingdom of our heavenly Father," 
Where no lie can enter in; 

Guarded by the flaming weapon 
From the mere approach of sin. 

"Good" that holds no dregs of evil, 
Pressed the cup and running o'er; 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 139 

Seventy times on seven though asking, 
Kver giving more and more. 

"Love," unmeasured and unweighted, 

Giving all, expecting none; 
Knowing neither tie nor kinship, 

Viewing all mankind as one. 

"One" that's altogether lovely, 

Holy as the spotless lamb; 
God is truth, and equal measure, 

Truth is God, the great I Am. 



140 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



ERE LONG. 

You shall see the King in his beauty, 

Yea, veril}^ face to face, 
And feel his presence around you. 

In a sure, everlasting embrace. 

You shall see the King in his glory, 
And hear his gentle voice speak; 

Shall feel his breath on your forehead, 
His kiss of peace on your cheek. 

You shall see the King in his power. 
And tremble with awe at his might, 

Yet see that he tenderly careth 

For the lowliest thing in his sight. 

You shall see the King in completeness, 
His splendor of perfected Whole, 

For his glorj' and beauty and power 
Are the real of your own higher soul. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 141 



MIND THE THREADS. 

Swift the weaver throws the shuttle, 
Back and forward, to and fro; 

In the web, close interw^oven, 
One by one the patterns grow. 

Are they clearly seen and perfect. 
So that he who runs may read? 

Know the threads are strong and valiant 
That the web, resistless, feed. 

Are the colors bright and lasting, 
Then we know the dyes are true; 

But if ra3''s of earth's strong sunlight 
Fade their brilliant, flashing hue, 

Know the threads were only seeming, 
Feigning to be grand and pure; 

For the colors true and steadfast, 
Any light can well endure. 



142 SOU]>FRAGRANCE. 



Do not blame the silent weaver, 
Weaving what the shuttles hold; 

Filled with threads all white and holy, 
He will weave you cloth of gold. 

Hear the warning — worth repeating — 

Of a poet truly wise: 

"Watch the thoughts" that fill the shut- 
tle, 

"There it is all danger lies." 

Life's the weaver, all unconscious, 

Sitting silent by the loom, 
Filling in the web immortal, — 

Threads that fade, or bud and bloom. 



SOUI^FRAGRANCE. 143 



THE WEIGHT OF A TEAR. 

I was pretty far gone on the reprobate 
way, 

And nothing seemed strong enough ruin 
to stay; 

I'd forfeited honor, position and wealth, 

Affection, pride, comeliness, self-respect, 
health— 

"For what?" do you ask? Have j'^ou nev- 
er heard tell 

Of that potion that's mixed with the 
forces of hell? 

I was sunken so low there Avas but a 

step more 
Between me and — God only knew the 

next door! 
When slouching one da^' in an alley's 

dark shade. 
The touch of a hand on my coat-sleeve 

was laid; 



144 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



It looked like a lily— so pretty and 

white — 
On a heap of old rags; 'twas a singular 

sight. 

The volley of oaths on my lips died 
away, 

And I doggedly listened to what she 
would say; 

With my head dropped a little to shut 
off her eyes, 

And hide from my own her look of sur- 
prise. 

"Why, John !" said the voice, "this is 
surely not you ?" 

And she said a deal more, courageously 
too. 



Her words were so kindly, so tenderly 

said, 
Yet unmoved and defiant I lifted my 

head, 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 145 



And opened my lips to blasphemously 

speak, 
When I saw — trickling downward — a tear 

on her cheek. 
Oh, the weight of that tear! Not a word 

could I say, 
But, stricken and dumb-like, I staggered 

away. 

Away from her presence, but not from 
the tear. 

That followed and followed me every- 
where near; 

From morning till evening its glistening 
shine, 

Around my weak heart-strings endeav- 
ored to twine, 

And into my innermost being it pressed. 

As prompting to action, yet beckoning 
to rest. 



146 SOUJ>FRAGR ANCE. 



Till one certain day, -which I love to re- 
call, 

It dropped in the mixture and turned it 
to gall; 

So tiny its size, yet so potent its power, 

It dashed from my fingers that very 
same hour. 

The potion, and broke into fragments 
the bowl 

That manhood and all it held dearest 
had stole. 



Oh, the weight of that tear! could hu- 
manity see 

How it battered down barriers 'twixt 
heaven and me. 

The fountain of love w^ould more fre- 
quently flow 

In drops of salvation new life to bestow, 

Hope's fresh resolutions to strengthen 
and keep, 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 147 



Aroused by a sympathy speechlessly 
deep. 

Far better than law, prison door, iron 
grate ; 

Threats, manacles, sermons and lessons 
sedate; 

Entreaties, persuasions, wise counsels 
and prayers. 

And all that well-meaning sincerity 
dares. 

Together or singly, was the mute, touch- 
ing plea 

Of that beautiful, humanized gem to 
me. 

I wot but the angels did witness that 

tear, 
As it fell on a heart that was callous and 

sere ; 
And its mission accomplished thej^'d lay 

it away, 



148 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



To be weighed in the balance of heaven 

one da}^; 
And when in the scale it will silently 

roll, 
They'll find it exactly the weight of a 

soul. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 149 



BE STILL. 



Be still, O soul, be very still, 
If thou wouldst know the Highest will; 
It shall be manifest through thee 
When thou art from impatience free. 

Be quiet, soul; be silent, heart; 
The Love divine will not depart. 
But consciously abide with thee 
When thou wilt love impartiall}'. 

There is no restless haste nor speed 
Where the Creator doth proceed 
To operate Its work divine, 
And let Its Light effulgent shine. 

When heart, and soul, and sense and, 

and thought, 
Profound tranquility have sought, 
O truly then the Highest may, 
Its -will and purpose there display. 



150 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



THE SHADOWS OF LIFE. 

Don't notice the shadows, dear one. 

Though loitering in every place; 
Just turn them your coldest shoulder 

When they stare you in the face, 
And know they are only a seeining, 

Without any power at all, 
Though boldly they dance and flicker 

On the edge of life's darkened wall. 

Do they seem to tangle your fingers 

And clutch you with icy hand? 
Do the}' lay on j^our heart like a mount- 
ain 

Of weight you don't understand? 
Are they dodging your weary footsteps 

And trjung to trip up your feet? 
My dear, they're the flimsiest nothings 

Mistaken for bitter and sweet. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 151 

Indeed they are perfectly harmless, 

From shadows none need run away; 
Peer back of them: look for the sub- 
stance 

There glowing with heavenlj^ ray, 
That in the uncertain twnlight, 

When your eyes with the dusk con- 
tends, 
You may not flee from the shadoA\' 

Of one of your truest friends. 

Don't you know e'en the beautiful Hoov- 
ers 

You never would think to chide 
Will picture the gloomiest shadows 

If the light's on the farther side? 
Then heed no longer the seeming, 

Since the substance is pressingly near, 
And the world with its myriad phases 

Is the shadow of heaven, rav dear. 



152 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



FAITH'S FRIEND. 

Faith has e'er a loving friend 
To all her pathways brighten; 

Gladly, eager to attend, 
And every burden lighten. 

Arm entwined in arm they walk 

In fair and dismal weather; 
Sitting now on thrones they talk 

Of conquests made together. 

Softly weaving garlands gay, 
The friend gathering the roses; 

All to crown life's destiny, 

Which trusting faith discloses. 

Now on pinnacles of praise 

They count their kingdom's treasures; 
Faith with such a hol)^ gaze, 

Her friend in sparkling measwrei, 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 153 



Faith has eyes, brave, calm and true, 

Uplifted ever higher; 
But her friend's are shining blue 

And full of flashing fire. 

Still, sometimes her friend has fears, 
Doubt clouds her face with sorrow; 

Then, faith wipes away her tears, 
Sure of a glad to-morroT\''. 

Faith is far the stronger one, 
Her friend, 'tis true, the fleeter; 

Often when faith struggles on, 
Her friend laughs all the sweeter. 

But although her cheery smile, 

Of help is always ready; 
Faith is plodding on the while, 

To keep her footsteps steady. 

Faith's fair friend it is that gild* 
The future with endeavor; 



154 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 

But 'tis faith — the worker — builds 
That which lasts forever. 

Faith, ah, Faith! Who then can cope 
With th3^ strong, steadfast gleaming? 

Surely not thy friend — sweet Hope — 
Though she excel in beaming. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 155 



THE SECRET. 

There is plenty to love in this world so 

glad, 
No heart need be empty, lonely nor sad. 
If the flood of affection will broaden and 

veer. 
Outside of the self-entombed, narrow 

sphere. 

There are myriads of objects beseech- 
ing for love. 

From the beautiful flowers to the stars 
above; 

From the bird's soft notes to the trem- 
bling lyre, 

From the lisping babe to the white- 
haired sire. 

There are treasures without and treas- 
ures within; 



156 SOUL-FRAGKANCE. 



The joys that may be and the griefs that 

have been; 
'Twere better to love a memory, or hope, 
Than slay the emotion, or limit its scope. 

The world is so full of the sweet and the 

true, 
Just waiting with ^vide-open arms for 

you, 
To tenderly gather, uplifted the while. 
By a touch of the hand or a kindly smile. 

Look upward, look dow^nw^ard, look 

whither you will. 
There's something worth loving, life's 

cravings to fill; 
No one need go desolate, hungry or lone, 
If love has but made in the heart its 

throne. 

Who loves not at all, neither little nor 
great, 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 157 

Impoverishes surely his noblest estate; 
For he kno"ws not — has not that in his 

soul, 
Wherein lies the secret of all control. 



158 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



ANGEL OF PEACE. 

I felt so strangely happy and at peace 
With God and man and all created things; 
Sweet odors of rare incense filled the air, 
And gentle motion as of pluming wings. 

The night drew on apace; when daylight 

fled, 
I laid me down with sweet, contented 

sigh; 
M}'^ soul had heard aright; expanding 

soft 
An angel's thought had touched me 

passing by. 



SOUL-FKAGRANCE. 159 



ONE LIFE. 



Shall one unto another say 

"I'm holier than thou," 
When all must tread the self-same paths 

In the eternal Now? 



And if, perchance, this were not true. 
Pray where would justice be? 

Should harder tasks be given to you 
Than what are given to me? 

Would it be just that you should know 

The bitterness of sin, 
And I, without a taint or stain, 

To heaven be ushered in? 

Great Buddha taught, in lesson wise. 

"Shun no man's garment, thou. 
For on the morrow it may be 

Upon thyself I trow." 



160 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



Aad thua the Master Teacher taught: 

"Boast not thyself, I say, 
For what to-morrow may bring forth 

Thou knowest not to-da3^" 

And Paul, apostle called of God, 

Writ with his holy pen : 
"There's no temptation waits you but 

Is common to all men." 

Then waywardness and strife and guilt- 
The thorns that pierce the clay — 

Are things but written in the sand, 
And shall be washed away. 

When w^ave on wave the surges deep. 

Of expiation roll. 
And with their bitter waters cleanse 

And purify the soul. 

E'en the}'^ witli scarlet robe enswathed 
Shall not be lost — ah no! 



SOUL-FKAGKANCE. 161 



But every crimson thread shall be 
Purged whiter than the snow. 

The poor shall know the snare of wealth, 

The rich, the sting of want; 
He who derides and sneers to-day 

To-morrow feels the taunt. 



A.nd every phase of good or ill. 
Of gladness, hope, despair. 

Of every grief and bliss, each one 
Must taste sometime, somewhere. 



And so with talents, graces, faults. 
With virtues great and small, 

Endowment equall}'- defined, 
God has bestowed on all. 

That in the Eons' ceaseless march, 
Each must all problems solve 

Of life, from low to high, the same 
Ideal to evolve. 



162 SOUL-FKAGKANCE. 

Thus none need mourn and none can 
boast; 

All share the self-same fate, 
To-da}', to-morrow, or therein 
Some pre-existent state. 

Who then can shun another's garb, 

Or boast of any lot, 
Since this is law unalterable 

One tittle or one jot? 

Whate'er the aspect of to-day, 

If censure or applaud, 
There's but one life, one law, one way, 

One brotherhood, one God. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 163 



WISDOM'S SEVEN PILLARS. 

"Look to the Rock from whence ye are hewn." 
Isa. 51:1. 

Above the marble, pure and white, 
Stands Wisdom with her chisel keen, 

Ere yet the hand of conscious thought 
Had traced a line that could be seen. 



With eyes unveiled, all undismayed, 
She gazed upon the seamless block; 

Then with unerring, faultless aim, 
She clave into the solid Rock. 

With swift, successive, dextrous blows, 
Out of its massive breadth and length, 

And all its vast dimensions great, 

She fashioned well the pillar. Strength. 



On this she stood, immovable. 

For through its every pore and vein 



164 



i^OUL-FRAGRANCE. 



The self-same life and power prevailed 
Which doth the solid Rock contain. 



With feet fixed firmly, standing sure, 
She carved with steady hand and true 

The pillar Courage, dauntless, brave, 
All vibrant with Rock-substance, too. 



With Courage for her strong defense, 
She clave into its depths below. 

And, chiseling softly, from its heart 
vShe caused the pillar Faith, to grow. 

Then seeing that these pillars three 
Would need a shield from pride's pre- 
text 

To guard them from the world's allure, 
She carved the pillar Meekness, next. 

Now well content she labored on. 
Till from the marble, well defined. 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 165 



The pillar, Justice, stood revealed, — 
With impartiality quite blind. 

Yet deeper still she cut with blows 

That well-nigh clave the Rock in two ; 

When, lo, from out its inmost breast, 
The pillar, Love, was brought to view. 

Once more that wise, unerring hand 
Must strike ere yet her work shall 
cease ; 

So with one powerful, master stx'oke, 
Was hewn the pillar, perfect Peace. 

Then gazing fondly on her work, — 
Not purposeless, but w^ith a plan, — 

She raised her eyes aloft and cried, 
"Behold God's Son— perfected Man!" 



166 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



DAY OF REST. 

O glorious day, wherein I feel 
The peace which is eternal, real, 
Fixed in me as its dwelling place, - 
And all my being interlace. 

O sweet, glad day, O day of rest, 
Now that of me which is the best. 
Reigns only in my consciousness. 
And spends itself to bless and bless. 

O sacred day, in which I know 
From whence I came and whither go; 
The path I long have sought is found, 
My feet are treading holy ground. 

O bright, rare day, in which I see 
The knowledge which the soul sets free- 
That Love is power and Truth is might- 
O sabbath of eternal Light! 



SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 167 

THE BREAD OF HEAVEN. 
"O taste and see that the Lord is good." 

I bad tasted of every pleasure 

The world calls rare and sweet; 
I had eaten of every error 

Peculiar to wandering feet; 
I had tasted of every sorrow,— 

The fruit of the errors sown,— 
But the wholesome foods of the ran- 
somed 

Were, as yet, to me unknown. 

Still I ate and ate without relish, 

All that which the world calls good, 
Till the after-taste grew so bitter, 

I could eat no more if I would; 
Beside, there was something within me. 

Beseeching, unsatisfied. 
Though to quiet its restless longing 

I had tried and repeatedly tried. 



168 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



But there came a day when the seeming 

Burst open like overripe shell, 
And I caught a glimpse of the viands 

This hunger alone could quell; 
Of the food that eternally nourished, 

Of the wine that would satisfy, 
And I tore the shell into fragments, 

With a shout that re-echoed on high. 



Nofv I tasted of hidden manna, — 

The bread which the heavens supply; 
I drank of celestial waters. 

After -which one can not die; 
I scented the fadeless flowers, 

And feasted my opened eyes 
On the luxuries growing abundant 

In the garden of Paradise. 



I plucked from the tree of Knowledge, 
Gold apples with wisdom rife; 

With w^eariless fingers gathered 
Rare fruits from the Tree of Life; 



SOUL-FKAGRANCK. 169 



I ate from the sumptuous table 
Prepared by the Lord on high,- 

Our own true, spiritual being, 
The real of you and I. 



The essence of all life's s^vreetness. 

When gleaned from the realms above, 

I drank in a cup o'erflowing 
With His compassionate love; 

I ate of His tender mercies, 

His promises naught can break. 

And drinking deep draughts of His sub- 
stance, 

His gentleness made me great. 



I filled myself with His courage, 
His purity, strength and truth, 

Till I was a new-made creature, 
With the health of eternal youth; 

I ate of His heavenly nature 
Till inwardly satisfied, 



170 SOUL-FRAGRANCE. 



Except with an ardent longing 
My bread with all to divide. 



BLOSSOMS OF UNIVERSAL TRUTH ; 

Or, Divine Tbouglits for Every Day in the Year. 

By Hannah More Kohaaa, author of 
" Between the Lines," etc. Price, 50c. 
It ia only through aspiratiou that the soul 
attains to Self-consciousness. 

There are many who recognize the power 
of the spoken word of Truth, but they do not 
know what word to speak. There are many 
who have earnest aspiratiou and desire to 
" take words and turn to the Lord," but they 
do not know in what words to clothe their 
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it is well for a number of people to be hold- 
ing the same word each day, for in union 
there is strength. 

It is to answer all of these needs that Blos- 
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This little book contains a statement for 
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Nothing like it has ever been given 
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see by the contents, which are as follows : 
January: Declaration— That which Is. 
February ; Negations— What I am Not. 
March: Af5rmations— What I Am. 
April : Contemplations-What I Think. 
May : Dedication-What I Will. 
June : Supplication— What I Have. 
July : Restoration- What I Restore. 
August : Aspiration— What I Desire. 
September: Acceptation— What I Believe. 
October: Consecration— What I Consecrate. 
November : Adoration— Praise and Thanksgiving. 
December : Benediction— Blessing and Promise. 
This little book is good food for the soul. 
It is pleasant to the eye, with its pretty, 
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word for the day with your first waking mo- 
ment. 

F. M. Harley Publishing Company, 

87=89 Washington Street, 
CHICAGO. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



015 926 027 6 



